Arrive in St. John's and you'll soon sense you've found somewhere special. This spirited city even keeps its own clocks, set half an hour ahead of its Maritime neighbours. Fresh sea air drifts up from the harbour, every corner seems to hold a view or a story, and life moves at a wonderfully unhurried pace. It's a city that's easy to fall for, and one you'll be talking about long after you've left.
Perched on the edge of the Atlantic, St. John's is the most easterly city in North America. Its best-known landmark, Cabot Tower, crowns Signal Hill high above the harbour. Make the climb for sweeping views over the Narrows, the city's colourful rooftops and the open ocean beyond, especially memorable at sunrise or sunset.
Back in town, brightly painted "jellybean" houses line the steep streets around Water Street, with independent shops and galleries in between. Nearby, The Rooms houses the provincial museum, art gallery and archives under one roof. Don't miss The Battery, where wooden homes cling to the cliffs, or Quidi Vidi, a traditional fishing village within the city. Just 20 minutes' drive away, Cape Spear marks the continent's most easterly point.
Dramatic clifftop walking starts on the city's doorstep. Few cities can match it: the East Coast Trail runs for 336 kilometres along the Avalon Peninsula, linking 25 wilderness paths, and National Geographic has named it one of the world's top adventure destinations. You can dip into it for a morning or a full day. The short North Head Trail climbs from The Battery to Signal Hill for sweeping harbour views, while the Sugarloaf Path heads over the headlands from Quidi Vidi to Logy Bay. Further south, the Spout Path leads to a natural geyser that shoots seawater into the air.
Newfoundland is one of the finest whale-watching destinations on the planet. Each summer, its waters host what is widely regarded as the world's largest concentration of humpback whales, joined by minke and fin whales, and they feed remarkably close to shore. The best sightings are from mid-June to mid-August. Boat trips leave from Bay Bulls, 30 minutes south, into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, home to North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony. Whales are often spotted from Signal Hill and Cape Spear too.
St. John's also sits at the southern end of Iceberg Alley, with icebergs most likely from April to June. Our specialists suggest mid to late June for the best chance of seeing icebergs, whales and puffins during one trip. Follow the icebergs north on our Iceberg Alley holiday or explore more of our Canada wildlife holidays.
Seafood is the star here, much of it straight off the boats. Try cod in all its forms, from fish and chips to the local speciality of pan-fried cod tongues, alongside snow crab, mussels and lobster in season. Toutons (fried dough with molasses) are a traditional treat. The city's acclaimed restaurants put a contemporary spin on local ingredients, and Quidi Vidi Brewery's iceberg-water lager is a must.
After dark, head to George Street, said to have more bars and pubs per square foot than any other street in North America. In just two short blocks, traditional music spills out onto the street most nights. Brave visitors can be "Screeched-in" as honorary Newfoundlanders with a shot of Screech rum and a kiss for a cod.
Summer is our favourite time to visit this city as it's packed with events. The annual George Street Festival brings a week of live music, building up to the Royal St. John's Regatta on Quidi Vidi Lake, North America's oldest annual sporting event. Above all, it's the warmth of the locals, always ready with directions or a tall tale, that visitors remember. St. John's is also the natural starting point for exploring the rest of Newfoundland and Labrador, ideally on one of our Canada fly-drive holidays.
Below is a selection of our handcrafted holidays including St Johns.
6 Nights from £2159pp
7 Nights from £2229pp
13 Nights from £2929pp
13 Nights from £3119pp
17 Nights from £3279pp
20 Nights from £3389pp
We have put together some of the best day trips available from St.John's - from boat tours to history tours and more. These are all available on our Canada holidays including St.John's. Contact our experts to add them on to your holiday.
Below is a selection of the hotels we offer our Canada holidays which visit St Johns. If you don't see the hotel you would like, just give us a call.
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